Engine



A. J. MEYER ENGINE I N VEN TOR. 42747! J/Wa zw Filed Aug. 19,

5F yrllllllltllivltll l 47 I1 ATTORNEY.

June 27, 1933.

Patented June 27, 1933 y sra'rss earner easier:

ANDRE J. MEYER, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DE'ERGET, MICI-IIGAN, A COR-PDRATIQN F VIRGINIA ENGINE Application filed August 19, 1931. Serial No. 558,088.

My invention relates to internal combus- Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional tion engines and more particularly to engines view through a typical cylinder of an engine of the sleeve valve type. of the sleeve valve type and showing my In engines of the sleeve valve type it is improved sealing structure associated theregenerally customary to provide a cylinder with, i head for each cylinder of the engine, this Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary cylinder head generally constructed to desectional views of the sealing structure illuspend within the cylinder and spaced there trating the operation of same when subjected from to provide a sleeve pocket for receivto pressures developed in the combustion ing the upper end of a suitable sleeve valve chamber during the engine power stroke.

means. The combustion chamber is usually Fig. 4 is a plan view of the wedging ring formed in the cylinder head and difliculty has incorporated in my improved sealing strucbeen experienced in engine structures of this ture, and

character in properly sealing the sleeve pock- Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the 15 et against the escape of gases from the comwedging ring. bustien chamber resulting 1n loss of pres- I have preferably illustrated my invention sure and power and also resulting in the with a sleeve valve engine of the single sleeve accumulation of carbon, rust and other unvalve type which is generally known as the desirable substances generally referred to as Bu rt vlccollum engine in which a single sludge in the sleeve pocket. sleeve valve, usually operating between the An object of my invention is to provide an depending cylinder head and cylinder is improved sleeve pocket structure for an ingiven a combined reciprocating and oscillatternal combustion engine of the sleeve valve ing movement with respect to the cylinder type which will effectively overcome the and sleeve axes wherebyany point on the aforesaid difliculties. sleeve traverses a closed path in performing Another object of my invention resides in the usual valving cycles of the engine. In the provision of an improved sealing means the accompanying drawing the illustrated for the sleeve pocket which sealing means is embodiment of my invention shows an engine capable of manufacture and assembly with A having a cylinder 10 and suitable jacket 30 the engine at relatively low cost and which portions 11 through which a cooling medium will maintain an eiiicient operation over long may be circulated. A cylinder head 12 is periods of use. g secured to the engine block and is provided A further object of my invention .is to with a portion 13 depending within the cylprovide an improved sealing structure for an inder 10 and spaced therefrom to provide a engine of the sleeve valve type employing a sleeve pocket let adapted to accommodate the re-entrant cylinder head spaced from the upper end of suitable sleeve valve means 15. walls of the cylinder to provide a sleeve pock- The cylinder head is preferably provided et accommodating sleeve valve means by conwith a combustion chamber 16 and the spark structing a sealing element adapted for moveplug or other ignition device 17 is supported ment during the engine power stroke and by the cylinder head in the usual manner. responsive to pressure developed in the com The sleeve valve means is provided with in bustion chamber for urging the sealing eletake and exhaust ports 18 and 19 respectively ment in such a manner as to provide a more which are constructed and arranged to reeffective sealing of the sleeve pocket during sp-ectively cooperate with the cylinder intake 45 the engine power stroke. and exhaust ports 20 and 21. A piston 22 For a moredet-ailed understanding of my operates within the cylinder and preferably invention reference may be had to the accomwithin the sleeve valve means and is adapted panying drawing which illustrates one form for connection with the engine crankshaft which my invention may assume and in (not shown) by means of the usual connect- 50 which; H Y ing rod 23. p

As stated in the introductory paragraphs of the specification, my invention is particularly related to the means for sealing the sleeve pocket for preventing the escape of pressure and the accumulation of undesirable sludge within the sleeve pocket. The sleeve pocket may be efliciently sealed by the employment of a yieldable cylindrical sleeve 25, this ring being preferably cylindrical and adapted for insertion between the depending portion 13 of the cylinder head and the sleeve valve means 15. This cylindrical sleeve 25 is preferably constructed of thin metallic material such as brass, or other suitable material of like characteristics and the same is preferably secured to the cylinder head by crimping the upper edge of the cylindrical sleeve 25 within a groove 26 carried by the cylinder head'as at 27. The cylindrical sleeve 25 preferably depends adjacent the outer cylindrical walls of the depending portion 13 of the cylinder head and contact therewith for substantially the full length of the sleeve It will be noted that this cylindrical sleeve is capable of movement radially outwardly with respect to the cylinder head for normally effecting a sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means 15. The lower edge of the cylind ical sleeve 25 is preferably turned inwardly to provide an inwardly extending flange 28 for a purpose which will be hereinafter made apparent. The lower portion of the reentrant cylinder head 14 is preferably reduced in diameter as at 29 and provided with" an inwardly extending tapered portion 31. A wedging ring .30 is adapted for assembly within the reduced portion of the cylinder head and this wedging ring is preferably provided with an'inner surface 32 provided with a taper corresponding to the taper of the lower portion of the cylinder head, and the outer circumferential surface of the wedging ring is adapted for engagement with the lowcr portion of the cylindrical sleeve 25.

It will be noted that the lower face of the wedging ring is subjected to any pressures developed within the combustion chamber of the engine and these pressures are developed during the power stroke of the engine. Thus the pressures developed during the engine power stroke act upon the wedging ring and tend to force the same from a position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, said co- 7 operating tapered portions of the ring and cylinder head acting to expand the ring which is split as at 33 and thereby expand the lower portion of the cylindrical sleeve or sealing element during the engine power stroke. The expanding of this cylindrical sleeve 25 provides a more effective sealing engagement between the sealing element or sleeve 25 and the sleeve valve means 15 during the engine power stroke.

Experience has shown when operating en gines of the sleeve valve type that the pressure loss due to ineificient sealing structures for the sleeve pocket are more detrimental to the engine operation at low engine speeds than at high engine speeds. It has been found that the power loss at low engine speeds is quite excessive unless some means are provided for sealing the sleeve pocket effectively. Many devices have been proposed for obtaining'this result but such devices have been constructed to act throughout the cyclical events of the engine operation and thus the frictional losses were found to more than overcome the advantages gained by use of such sealing structures. In my device I provide a sealing structure in which frictional losses are maintained at a minimum due to the fact that the sealing element is urged into a more efiicient sealing engagement only during the engine pow-er stroke, and when the pressure acting on said sealing element is relieved during the other cyclical events of the engine operation the friction between the sealing element and the engine sleeve valve is reduced to a minimum, thereby permitting the operation of the sleeve valve means with a minimum of frictional losses.

The construction as described and illustrated above provides for improved engine performance with a minimum of power loss throughout a range of engine speeds. Furthermore the structure shown in the illustrat ed embodiment of my invention can be economically manufactured and readily asse1n-- bled with an engine of the character specified above with a minimum of expense. Also, the structure as herein described may be readily serviced with a minimum of expense thereby providing an engine structure which will give satisfactory performance through out its life and due to the efficient operation of my device it'may be noted that frequent removal of carbon or sludge deposits in the sleeve pocket'which necessitate the removal of the cylinder heads, are unnecessary since my device is very effective in preventing such accumulations of sludge or other undesirable deposits within the sleeve pocket of the engine.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention 'or from .the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending Within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element associated with said. structure for sealing said space, and means movably supported .in juxtaposition with said sealing element and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for increasingthe effectiveness of said sealing element during the engine power stroke.

2. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a yielding sealing element associated with said structure for sealing said space, and means niovably supported for engagement with said sealing element and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the valve means during said engine power stroke.

3. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space pro vided between saidstructure andcylinder, a sealing element associated with said structure for sealing said space, and a wedge mem ber engaging said sealing element and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing position within said space.

4:. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure andcylinder, a sealing element associated with. said-structure for sealingsaid space, and a ring like wedge member subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing; element into a more effective sealing position within said space.

5. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, an expansible sealingelement associated with said structure and adapted for engagement with said valve means for sealing said space, and means movably supported in engagement with said element and subjected-to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for expanding said sealing element and urging same into a more effective sealing engagement with the valve means during the engine power stroke.

6. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, an expansible sealing element associated with said structure and adapted for engagement with said valve means for sealing said space, and a wedge member engaging'said element and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for urging same into amore effective sealing engagement with the valve means during the engine power stroke.

7. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element for sealing said space and secured at its upper edge to said structure, and means movably supported in engagement with the lower portion of said element and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more efiective sealing engagement with the valve means during the engine power stroke.

8. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and expansible sealing element for sealing said space and secured at its upper edge to said structure, and a wedge member engaging the lower portion of said element and subjected to pressure developed duringthe engine power stroke for expanding said sealing element into a more efi'ective sealing engagement with the valve means during the engine power stroke.

9. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element for sealing said space and comprising an expansible sleeve supported intermediate said structure and said valve means, and means movably supported in engagement with said sleeve and subjected to pressure developed during the engine power stroke for expanding said sleeve and urging same into a more effective sealing engagement with the valve means during the engine power stroke.

' 10. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination. a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a. sealing element associated therewith for sealing said space, and means movably supported in engagement with said sealing element and subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing' element into a more effective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

11. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element associated therewith for sealing said space, and means movably supported in engagement with said sealing element and subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said cylindrical sealing element into a more efl'ective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

12. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element for sealing said space and secured adjacent its upper edge to said cylinder head, and means movably supported in engagement with the lower portion of said element and subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said cylindrical sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

13. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, at cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element for sealing said space and secured adjacent its upper edge to said cylinder head, and a wedge'ring between said element and cylinder head and subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said cylindrical sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

14:. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, -a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element for sealing said space and secured adjacent its upper edge to said cylinder head,

and awedge ring between said element and cylinder head and sub ected to pressure developed 1n the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for expanding said cylindrical sealing element radially out wardly mto a more effective sealmg engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

' 15. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a' cylinder head" providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealing element being secured at its upper edge and depending therefrom in engage-ment for the most part with the cylinder head but radially movable therefrom, and means supported adjacent the lower edge of said element between said cylinder head and sleeve valve means'and sub jected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

16. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical'sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealingelement being secured at its upper edge and depending therefrom in engagement forthe most part with the cylinder head but radially movable therefrom, and a wedging ring supported adjacent the lower edge of said element between the cylinder head and sleeve valve means and subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with thesleeve valve means during the'engine power stroke.

17. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder,'a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced fromthe cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealing element being secured at its upper edge and depending therefrom in engagement for the most part with the cylinder head but radially movable therefrom, and a split wedging ring engaging the lower portion of said element and supported intermediate the cylinder head and sealing element, said ring and cylinder head having cooperating tapered interengaging surfaces, said ring subjected to pressure developed in thecombustion chamber during the engine power stroke whereby by reason of said cooperating tapered surfaces, said ring urges said sealing element intoa more efi'ective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder a oylindricalsealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealing element secured at its upper edge to said cylinder head and depending therefrom in engagement with the cylinder head but radially movable therefrom and provided with an inwardly extending flange at its lower edge, and a split wedging ring engaging the lower portion of said element and supported by said inwardly extending flange, said ring subjected to pressures developed in the combustion chamber during the engine power stroke for urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with said sleeve valve means during the engine power stroke.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

